Output tray having a movable section

ABSTRACT

According to examples, an apparatus may include an input tray coupled to a media path and an output tray to receive media from the media path. The output tray may be automatically positioned to an open position based on the media being inputted into the input tray. A movable section may be movably coupled to the output tray. In some examples, the movable section may automatically move relative to the output tray based on the output tray being automatically positioned to the open position.

BACKGROUND

An automatic document feeder may include an input tray and an outputtray and may automatically transport a sheet of media from the inputtray to the output tray. During transport, the sheet of media may becopied or scanned for printing, faxing, displaying on a monitor, orother processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Features of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example andnot limited in the following figure(s), in which like numerals indicatelike elements, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict block diagrams of an example apparatus that mayinclude an output tray coupled to an input tray and a movable sectionmovably coupled to the output tray;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an example multifunction printingdevice having an automatic document feeder including an output tray witha movable section; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views depicting an example automaticdocument feeder having an output tray and a breakaway plate rotatablycoupled to the output tray, in which the breakaway plate is positionedin a closed position and an open position, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the presentdisclosure are described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide an understanding of the examples. It will be apparent,however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the examples may bepracticed without limitation to these specific details. In someinstances, well known methods and/or structures have not been describedin detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description of theexamples. Furthermore, the examples may be used together in variouscombinations.

Throughout the present disclosure, the terms “a” and “an” are intendedto denote one of a particular element or multiple ones of a particularelement. As used herein, the term “includes” means includes but notlimited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. Theterm “based on” may mean based in part on.

In some printer designs, output trays may include features for mediaremoval including, for instance, a raised inner platform, shark fins, ascoop, a notch, or the like, to provide a user with sufficient grasp byenabling the user’s fingers to be placed under media in the outputtrays. However, many of these features may create visual noise and/orsurface irregularities.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses that may include an output tray havinga movable section (which may also be construed as a breakaway hingefeature) that may automatically move (e.g., rotate or hinge) from theoutput tray based on a position of the output tray. For instance, whenthe output tray is in a first position (e.g., a closed position), themovable section may be coplanar with the output tray, which may resultin the movable section forming a flat surface with the rest of theoutput tray. As a result, the movable section may cause minimal visualnoise when the output tray is in the first position. Alternatively, whenthe output tray is in a second position (e.g., an open position, anoperational position, or the like), the movable section may move, e.g.,become hinged with respect to the rest of the output tray, for instancedue to gravity, creating a grasping area in which a user’s finger may beplaced to grasp media on the output tray. When the output tray isreturned to the first position, the movable section may automaticallymove to be coplanar with the rest of the output tray.

In some examples, an input tray may be coupled to a media path and theoutput tray may receive media from the media path. In addition, theoutput tray may be automatically positioned to an open positionresponsive to media being inputted to the input tray. The movablesection may be movably coupled to the output tray and may automaticallymove relative to the output tray as the output tray is automaticallypositioned to the open position.

The breakaway hinge design of the movable section may improve aestheticsof the automatic document feeder by creating a clean, flat top surfacewhen the automatic document feeder is not in use and the output tray isin the closed position. In one regard, by keeping the output tray in theclosed position when the automatic document feeder is not in use, a usermay quickly identify the input tray during walk-up scan tasks.Furthermore, the breakaway hinge design may provide a large area forgrasping media from the output tray when the output tray is in the openposition.

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which respectively depictblock diagrams of an example apparatus 100 that may include an outputtray coupled to an input tray and a movable section movably coupled tothe output tray. It should be understood that the example apparatus 100may include additional features and that some of the features describedherein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scopeof the apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the apparatus 100, which may also be referencedherein as an automatic document feeder (ADF), may include a media path110 to route media 120 through the apparatus 100, as depicted by arrows112. The apparatus 100 may be used to automatically transport media 120(e.g., one sheet or multiple sheets sequentially) along the media path110 from an input tray 114 to a scanning or imaging position 115, andthen to an output tray 116. At the scanning or imaging position 115, themedia 120 may be scanned or imaged for copying, scanning, faxing,displaying on a monitor, or other processing. In some examples, theapparatus 100 (or ADF) may be part of a printer, a scanner, aphotocopier, a fax machine, or a multi-function or all-in-one deviceproviding printing, scanning, copying, and/or faxing capabilities.

The input tray 114 and the output tray 116 may be disposed in theapparatus 100 such that the output tray 116 is positioned above theinput tray 114. The output tray 116 may be movable (e.g., rotate orpivot) to automatically open and close, for instance, based on presenceof media 120 in the input tray 114. For example, as illustrated in theexample of FIG. 1A, without input of media 120 to media path 110, theoutput tray 116 may remain in or be automatically positioned in (e.g.,moved to or changed to) the closed positon. Additionally, as illustratedin the example of FIG. 1B, when media 120 is placed in the input tray114 as represented by arrow 122, the output tray 116 may beautomatically positioned in (e.g., moved to or changed to), the openpositon. As such, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1A, withoutinput of media 120 to media path 110 or the media 120 being placed inthe input tray 114, the output tray 116 may not be in communication withthe media path 110. However, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1B,with input of media 120 to the media path 110 or the input tray 114, theoutput tray 116 may automatically be moved to be in communication withthe media path 110.

As also shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a movable section 118 may be coupledto the output tray 116 such that the movable section 118 may move (e.g.,rotate or pivot) relative to the output tray 116. The movable section118 may automatically rotate or pivot relative to the output tray 116,for instance, based on the position of the output tray 116. As depictedin FIG. 1A, the movable section 118 may be automatically positioned in afirst position in which the movable section 118 is co-planar with theoutput tray 116 when the output tray 116 is positioned in the firstposition, e.g., the closed position. By way of particular example andfor illustration, the output tray 116 may be disposed on an uppersection of the apparatus 100 and, with the movable section 118 in thefirst position (e.g., raised position), the output tray 116 togetherwith the movable section 118 may form a flat surface that covers the topside of the apparatus 100.

The movable section 118 may be movably coupled to the output tray 116via a connection such as a hinge, or the like. As illustrated in FIG.1B, responsive to the output tray 116 being moved to a second position,e.g., an open position, as represented by arrow 124, the movable section118 may move down relative to the output tray 116, as represented byarrow 126. The movement of the movable section 118 downward may create anegative space between the movable section 118 and outputted media 120such that a user may grab the media 120 with relatively greater easefrom the output tray 116.

The movable section 118 may automatically move relative to the outputtray 116 based on the output tray 116 being automatically positioned tothe open position. By way of particular example, the movable section 118may be positioned at a distal end of the output tray 116, and when theoutput tray 116 is rotated, as represented by arrow 124, the movablesection 118 may be raised at an incline. In such an inclined position,the movable section 118 may rotate (e.g., hinge down) automatically, forinstance via gravitational forces, to a position in which the movablesection 118 may be angled at a predefined angle relative to the outputtray 116. In response to the output tray 116 being automaticallypositioned to the closed position, the movable section 118 mayautomatically rotate to the first position to be co-planar with theoutput tray 116. For instance, the apparatus 100 may include a ledge orother feature that the movable section 118 may contact as the outputtray 116 is rotated from the open position to the closed position.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 , which depicts a block diagram of anexample multifunction printing device 200 having an automatic documentfeeder (ADF) including an output tray 212 with a movable section 218. Itshould be understood that the example multifunction printing device 200may include additional features and that some of the features describedherein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scopeof the example multifunction printing device 200.

The example multifunction printing device 200 may include a printassembly 202, a controller 204, a storage device 206, an image reader208, and an ADF 210. The print assembly 202 may include a printheadassembly, a fluid (e.g., ink) supply assembly, a mounting assembly, amedia transport assembly, a power supply that provides power toelectrical componenents of the multifunction printing device 200, or thelike. For instance, the printhead assembly may include a printhead die,as an example of a fluid ejection die or fluid ejection device, thatejects drops of fluid through a plurality of orifices or nozzles towarda print media, such as the media 120 depicted in FIG. 1B, so as to printon media 120.

In some examples, the media 120 may be any type of suitable sheet orroll material, such as paper, card stock, transparencies, Mylar, and thelike, and may include rigid or semi-rigid material, such as cardboard orother panels. The mounting assembly may position the printhead assemblyrelative to the media transport assembly, and the media transportassembly may position media 120 relative to printhead assembly. Thus, aprint zone may be defined adjacent to nozzles in an area betweenprinthead assembly and media 120.

The controller 204 may include a processor, firmware, software, memorycomponents including volatile and non-volatile memory components, andother printer electronics for communicating with and controlling theprinthead assembly, the mounting assembly, and the media transportassembly. The controller 204 may receive data from a host system, suchas a computer, and may temporarily store data in the storage device 206.Data may be sent to multifunction printing device 200 along anelectronic, infrared, optical, or other information transfer path. Datarepresents, for example, a document and/or file to be printed. As such,data may form a print job for the multifunction printing device 200 andmay include print job commands and/or command parameters.

In some examples, the multifunction printing device 200 may include theADF 210, as an example of the apparatus 100 as depicted in FIGS. 1A and1B, and the image reader 208 such that ADF 210 may automaticallytransport media 120 along the media path 110, to and/or past the imagereader 208. As such, the image reader 208 may acquire and/or generate animage of a side or surface of media 120.

The ADF 210 may include an output tray 212, which may also be referredto herein as an automated media tray, as an example of the output tray116 as depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, to receive media 120 as output fromthe media path 110. In some examples, the output tray 212 may beautomatically positioned (for instance, closed or opened, stowed ordeployed, covered or uncovered, concealed or revealed, retracted orextended, non-communicated or communicated, inaccessible or accessible)based on input of media 120 to the ADF 210, including, morespecifically, for instance, input of media 120 to the media path 110 ofthe ADF 210.

In some examples, input of the media 120 to the media path 110 may beprovided by a pick mechanism or pick assembly 214. More specifically, inimplementations, the ADF 210 may include the pick mechanism or pickassembly 214 to pick media 120 from an input tray 216 of the ADF 210, asan example of the input tray 114, and feed the media 120 to the mediapath 110. The pick mechanism or the pick assembly 214 may include, forexample, a pick roller to contact and pick the media 120 (i.e., a topsheet of media) from the input tray 216, and a drive system (e.g.,motor, shaft, gearing) to rotate the pick roller.

In some examples, the output tray 212 may be automatically positioned(for example, opened, deployed, uncovered, revealed, extended,communicated, accessible) with input of media 120 to the media path 110,as provided by the pick assembly 214. More specifically, with operationof the pick assembly 214 to pick media 120 from the input tray 216 andfeed media 120 to the media path 110, the output tray 212 may beautomatically positioned to receive media 120 from the media path 110.For example, in implementations, the pick assembly 214 may beoperatively connected to or coupled with the output tray 212 to controla position of the output tray 212 with operation of the pick assembly214 to the pick media 120 from the input tray 216 (e.g., duringoperation of the pick assembly 214 to pick media 120).

In some examples, without input of the media 120 to the media path 110and without media 120 in the output tray 212 (for example, with media120 removed from the output tray 212 ), the output tray 212 mayautomatically be positioned (for example, closed, stowed, covered,concealed, retracted, non-communicated, inaccessible) so as not toreceive media 120 from the media path 110.

In some examples, the ADF 210 may include a sensor 222 to sense thepresence (or absence) of media 120 in the input tray 216 and the outputtray 212, and may provide input to control the position of output tray212. For example, without media 120 in the output tray 212, asdetermined by the sensor 222, and without input of media 120 to theinput tray 216 and/or the media path 110, the output tray 212 may becontrolled to be positioned in (e.g., moved to or changed to) a closedposition.

In one implementation, the ADF 210, including the output tray 212, thepick assembly 214, and the sensor 222, may be in electroniccommunication with the controller 204. As such, the controller 204 maycontrol a position of the output tray 212 based on input of media 120 tothe media path 110. In this instance, a separate controller may beimplemented in the automatic document feeder 210, separate from thecontroller 204 to control the print assembly 202, to control operationsof the automatic document feeder 210.

In some examples, the output tray 212 may be movably coupled to amovable section 218, as an example of the movable section 118 in FIGS.1A and 1B, which may also be referred to herein as a breakaway plate. Inthis instance, the ADF 210 may include a body and the input tray 114 maybe disposed on the body and coupled to a media path 110. The output tray212 may be disposed over the input tray to receive media 120 from themedia path 110. The movable section 218 may be rotatably coupled to theoutput tray 212 to rotate relative to the output tray 212 based on aposition of the output tray 212.

In this instance, when the output tray 212 is controlled to be in theclosed position based on a signal (or a lack of a signal) from thesensor 222 (e.g., media 120 is not detected in the input tray 216 or theoutput tray 212), the movable section 218 may automatically rotate to becoplanar with the output tray 212. When the output tray 212 iscontrolled to be in the open positon based on a signal received (or alack of receipt of a signal) from the sensor 222 (e.g., media 120 isdetected in the input tray 216 or the output tray 212), the movablesection 218 may be automatically rotated to be angled at a predefinedangle relative to the output tray 212. In some examples, the movablesection 218 may be coupled to the output tray 212 by a hinge and causedto hinge downward relative to the output tray 212 due to gravitationalforces. In some examples, the hinge may include a spring that mayfurther force the movable section 218 to move downward.

In some examples, the ADF 210 may include a movable section movementassembly 220 that may control movement of the movable section 218 basedon a position of the output tray 212. In one implementation, the movablesection movement assembly 220 may include a hinge to couple the movablesection 218 to the output tray 212, and the movable section 218 mayrotate downward via the hinge due to gravitational forces when themovable section 218 is raised by rotation of the output tray 212 to beopened. In one implementation, a corner of the movable section 218adjacent to a body of the ADF 210 may be in sliding contact with a ledge224 formed on the body of the ADF 210, and when the output tray 212 isrotated to the closed position, the ledge 224 on the body of the ADF 210may push the corner of the movable section 218 upwards as the outputtray 212 is moved from the open position to the closed position toreturn the movable section 218 to be in a raised position (e.g.,co-planar relative to the output tray 212).

In some examples, the movable section movement assembly 220 may includea motor assembly that may move the movable section 218. The motorassembly may include a motor, gears, etc., to raise or lower the movablesection 218 based on a sensed presence of the media 120 in the inputtray 216 and/or the output tray 212.

In some examples, the movable section movement assembly 220 may includea spring coupled to the movable section 218 that may force the movablesection 218 upwards. In this instance, a latch or tab in contact withthe movable section 218 may press against the movable section 218 whenthe output tray 212 is rotated to the open position to cause the movablesection 218 rotate or hinge downward. When the output tray 212 isreturned to the closed position, the spring may press against themovable section 218 to move the movable section 218 to the raisedposition.

In some examples, the movable section movement assembly 220 may includea latch or a lock implemented to fix a position of the movable section218 in the raised position. By way of particular example, in case a sizeof the media 120 is such that the movable section 218 is not needed tograb the media from the output tray 212 (e.g., when printing on legalsize paper that extends beyond an end of the output tray 212), the latchor lock may lock the position of the movable section 218 in the raisedposition.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which are perspective viewsdepicting an example automatic document feeder 300 (ADF) having anoutput tray and a breakaway plate rotatably coupled to the output trayand positioned in a closed position and an open position, respectively.It should be understood that the example automatic document feeder 300may include additional features and that some of the features describedherein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scopeof the example ADF 300.

The ADF 300, as an example of the apparatus 100, may include a body 310having a media path, as an example of the media path 110, an input tray312, as an example of the input trays 114 and 216, an output tray 314,as an example of the output trays 116 and 212, and a breakaway plate316, as an example of the movable sections 118 and 218. The input tray312 may be disposed on the body 310 and coupled to the media path 110. Asensor, as an example of the sensor 222, may detect a presence of amedia, as an example of the media 120, in the input tray 312 and/or theoutput tray 314. The output tray 314 may be disposed over the input tray312 to receive the media from the media path and in a closed position,as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the output tray 314 may form a flat surfacetogether with the breakaway plate 316 and cover the output side of themedia path 110. In some examples, the output tray 314 may include anotched section that may correspond to a shape of the breakaway plate316, and the breakaway plate 316 may be hingedly coupled to the outputtray 314 at the notched section of the output tray 314.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, based on the sensor 222 detecting thepresence of the media in the input tray, the output tray 314 may bemoved (e.g., rotated or hinged) to an open position from a closedposition. In some examples, the breakaway plate 316, which may behingedly coupled to the output tray 314 at the notched section of thebreakaway plate 316, may automatically rotate relative to the outputtray 314 when the output tray 314 is moved to the open position from theclosed position.

In some examples, the breakaway plate 316 may rotate down relative tothe output tray 314 due to gravitational forces when the output tray 314is rotated causing the breakaway plate 316 to be inclined. By way ofparticular example, a ledge, as an example of the ledge 224, may beformed on the body 310 of the ADF 300 and a portion (e.g., a cornersection 318) of the breakaway plate 316 may be in sliding contact withthe ledge 224. As such, for instance, the ledge 224 may push the portionof the breakaway plate 316 up as the output tray 314 is moved from theopen position to the closed position such that, for instance, thebreakaway plate 316 is raised to be parallel to an upper surface of thebody 310. In some examples, the ADF 300 may include a motor assembly, aspring assembly, a latch/lock assembly, or the like, to automaticallycontrol movement of the breakaway plate 316.

In some examples, the breakaway plate 316 may have a predetermined shapeand the output tray 314 may have a notched section having acorresponding shape. By way of particular example, as illustrated inFIG. 3A, the breakaway plate 316 may have a triangular shape and theoutput tray 314 may have a corresponding triangular notched section thatmay form a rectangular shape when the breakaway plate 316 is positionedcoplanar to the output tray 314.

By way of particular example, the output tray 314 may be rotatablycoupled to the body 310 of the ADF 300 at a first point (e.g., near thecorner section 318) on a lateral side of the output tray 314. In thiscase, for instance, a first side 322 of the breakaway plate 316 mayextend from the first point parallel to the lateral side of the outputtray 314, a second side 324 of the breakaway plate 316 may extend fromthe first side 322 parallel to a distal side of the output tray 314, anda third side 326 of the breakaway plate 316 may extend between the firstside 322 and the second side 324 of the breakaway plate 316.

The shape of the breakaway plate 316 may be based on relative positionsand features of the output tray 314, such as the location of the pivotpoint of the output tray 314, a location of an extension arm 328 tocatch output media 120, a speed of media 120 that is output and acorresponding amount of friction between the media 120 and the outputtray 314, or the like. In some examples, the extension arm 328 may bedisposed to extend at a distal end of the output tray 314, and thebreakaway plate 316 may be disposed adjacent to the extension arm 328 atthe distal end of the output tray 314.

Although described specifically throughout the entirety of the instantdisclosure, representative examples of the present disclosure haveutility over a wide range of applications, and the above discussion isnot intended and should not be construed to be limiting, but is offeredas an illustrative discussion of aspects of the disclosure.

What has been described and illustrated herein is an example of thedisclosure along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptionsand figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only andare not meant as limitations. Many variations are possible within thespirit and scope of the disclosure, which is intended to be defined bythe following claims -- and their equivalents -- in which all terms aremeant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an input tray coupled toa media path; an output tray to receive media from the media path, theoutput tray to be automatically positioned to an open position based onthe media being inputted into the input tray; and a movable sectionmovably coupled to the output tray, wherein the movable section is toautomatically move relative to the output tray based on the output traybeing automatically positioned to the open position.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein: based on the media being inputted into the input tray,the output tray is to be automatically placed into the open positionfrom a closed position; and based on a determination that the media hasnot been inputted in the input tray, the output tray is to remain in theclosed position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movablesection is hinged to the output tray, the movable section toautomatically rotate from a first position that is coplanar with theoutput tray to a second position that is angled at a predefined anglerelative to the output tray responsive to the output tray beingautomatically positioned to the open position.
 4. The apparatus of claim3, wherein: the movable section automatically rotates to the firstposition responsive to the output tray being in a closed position, andthe movable section automatically rotates to the second positionresponsive to the output tray being in the open position.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable section has a triangular shapeand wherein the movable section and the output tray form a rectangularshape when the movable section is positioned coplanar to the outputtray.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the output tray is rotatablycoupled to a body of an automatic document feeder at a first point on alateral side of the output tray, and wherein a first side of the movablesection extends from the first point parallel to the lateral side of theoutput tray, a second side of the movable section extends from the firstside parallel to a distal side of the output tray, and a third side ofthe movable section extends between the first side and the second sideof the movable section.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a portionof the movable section is to contact a ledge on a body of an automaticdocument feeder with the movable section being hinged relative to theoutput tray, and responsive to the output tray moving to a closedposition, the movable section is caused to rotate to a coplanar positionrelative to the output tray based on the contact with the ledge.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable section is coupled to theoutput tray by a hinge, the movable section being caused to hingerelative to the output tray due to gravitational forces responsive tothe output tray being positioned in the open position.
 9. An automaticdocument feeder, comprising: a body; an input tray disposed on the bodyand coupled to a media path; an output tray disposed over the input trayto receive media from the media path, the output tray to automaticallyopen and close based on input of media to the input tray; and abreakaway plate rotatably coupled to the output tray, the breakawayplate to rotate relative to the output tray based on a position of theoutput tray.
 10. The automatic document feeder of claim 9, wherein theoutput tray is disposed to be parallel to an upper surface of the bodywhen the output tray is in a closed position and the output tray isdisposed to be angled at a first predefined angle relative to the uppersurface of the body when the output tray is in an open position.
 11. Theautomatic document feeder of claim 10, wherein: the breakaway plate isto automatically rotate to be coplanar with the output tray when theoutput tray is in the closed position, and the breakaway plate is toautomatically rotate to be angled at a second predefined angle relativeto the output tray when the output tray is in the open position.
 12. Theautomatic document feeder of claim 9, wherein: the breakaway plate is torotate downward relative to the output tray due to gravitation forces asthe output tray is being opened, and the breakaway plate is caused toautomatically rotate upward relative to the output tray as the outputtray is being closed.
 13. The automatic document feeder of claim 9,wherein the output tray includes an extension arm disposed to extend ata distal end of the output tray, and the breakaway plate is disposedadjacent to the extension arm at the distal end of the output tray. 14.An automatic document feeder, comprising: a body having a media path; aninput tray disposed on the body and coupled to the media path; a sensorto detect a presence of a media in the input tray; an output traydisposed over the input tray to receive the media from the media path,the output tray comprising a notched section and to move to an openposition from a closed position responsive to the sensor detecting thepresence of the media in the input tray; and a breakaway plate hingedlycoupled to the output tray at the notched section of the output tray,the breakaway plate to automatically rotate relative to the output traywhen the output tray is moved to the open position from the closedposition.
 15. The automatic document feeder of claim 14, furthercomprising: a ledge formed on the body, wherein a portion of thebreakaway plate is in sliding contact with the ledge, and wherein theledge is to push the portion of the breakaway plate up as the outputtray is moved from the open position to the closed position.